A Companion to the Philosophy of History and Historiography

Like the encompassing nature of the other volumes in the Blackwell Companion to Philosophy series, undergraduate students and scholars with a serious interest in philosophical problems related to history and historiography should benefit from the newest Companion. (Reviews in Religion & Theology, 2012) This volume does a fine job of showing the field's connections to many of the central concerns of contemporary philosophy. Part Four offers essays addressing the traditional schools and issues of philosophy of history and historiography, as well as valuable essays on postmodernism, Muslim philosophy of history, and philosophy of history at the end of the Cold War, among other topics. Recommended. (Choice, June 2009) Tucker is to be congratulated?for conceiving of this work, and for soliciting, selecting, organizing, and editing its essays?all of which were written especially for the volume. [E]ach essay presents a particular author's take on a subject, often ending with further questions and suggestions. In this way it resembles a conversational partner who accompanies one along the way, stimulating further reflection as well as providing interesting information and observations. A companion literally is someone who breaks bread with another (com: with; panis: bread), and it certainly is the case that these essays?so clearly written, so mercifully manageable in length, and so sharp in focus?collectively and individually provide a great deal of food for thought. [T]he range and scope of the volume?is impressive by any standard. The fact that the authors are world-class authorities in the areas in which they are writing, and that they have made a special effort (prodded, no doubt, by its editor), to write in clear, jargon-free prose, makes evident the appeal and usefulness of the book. Too, the book is handsomely produced and well copy-edited by Wiley-Blackwell. (Brian Fay, Journal of the Philosophy of History) Since the writing of history is part of the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences, the philosophical questions pertaining thereto have often been isolated from each other. Not so here. This volume is full of riches. ?Elliott Sober, University of Wisconsin Anyone interested in thinking about history, from the great systems to analyzing how historians support their truth claims, will find these expert essays a splendid introduction. ?Richard Vann, Senior Editor, History and Theory